Next of Kin (and relationship)[Prior to the war]: James Emerson Campbell, Father
Date of enlistment: April 22, 2012
City and province of enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Essay
Lest We Forget: William Douglas Campbell
World War 2, a critical transformation Canada is viewed. Our Country finally revealed our true potential. That Canada was not a weak country, leaching off of the US. Although we almost always forget, what really happened during the war was different. We see the war as a team struggle and never look into individuals. While this essay is different. We look into the life of an individual in the war from St Paul’s High School, William Douglas Campbell, one who died young from the causes of the war.
Before the war William lived on 225 Niagara St. in Winnipeg.
225 Niagara Street, Winnipeg
He had one sister by the name of Shirley Campbell (5 years younger). He had a Father, James Emerson Campbell, which probably loved sports seeing William was part of so many teams, and a loving mother named Lillian Campbell. He was born September the 24th 1922 later on it was obvious he was a very active young man. Playing hockey, baseball and running track. Through these sports we see a very big trait in William, all of these sports have to do with a team. Meaning he could rely on his teammates, a very good trait to have going into war as you needed to trust your fellow soldiers. He joined St. Paul’s in grade 10, originally coming from Kelvin High School. Some interesting parts of his life were, in his health report it said he had a 3rd nipple, he worked as a Bank clerk (he didn’t like it) and he had the measles when he was younger. Measles was a more common disease in the 1930-1940’s it was known for its bad symptoms [Bloodshot eyes, Muscle pain, and a rash lasting for 4-7 days!] (A.D.A.M Board.)
William seemed to be an extraordinary young man, with his entire life ahead of him. In 1942 he decided to join the R.C.A.F. He applied to be a pilot, with 0 flying hours it would seem he would never get the job, although that wasn’t the case. He trained at the RAF trainee’s pool for a time, In this training he had to and after his training was completed joined the war. William served in the war for a total of 3 years, during this period he was only 20-23 years old, which seems very young to be in a war. Although there were many just like him. William was part of one of the most important bombings of the war, the bombing of Berlin. This bombing occurred at the end of the war, and is one of the main reasons for the collapse of the Nazi’s. “The Allies bomb Berlin with 12,000 airmen, dropping thousands of tons of explosives. Heavy losses are sustained on both sides; in one nighttime raid on the 24th… Despite the losses, the Allies are able to replace their forces while the Germans are not.” (WW2 timeline) This quotation is just telling us how important the bombing of Berlin will be for the war.William and his squadron, the snowy owls [squadron 420], were a major part of the winning of the war. Life in the squadron seemed like the only good thing these soldiers had going for them. They were fighting for their lives together and looking at the picture of the Snowy Owls they seemed like a very close group. They had to be because if they didn’t trustsoldiers, they could end up dead quick. The Snowy Owls were a very sucessful group: "The squadron flew a total of 3,479 sorties while completing 314 missions as part of Bomber Command during World War II flying over Europe. The majority, 79% (247), of these were bombing missions. Mine laying accounted for 18% (47) and the remaining missions were related to leaflet dropping (eight missions) and weather reconnaissance (two missions)." (420 squadron) William was once again succeeding, his team effort with the other members of his squad were amazing. William was unbeatable with 247 bombings, it is most likely he flew the Halifax III as most pilots in the 420 squadron flew this plane. Although while in the war, bombing other countries wasn't all William was thinking about like any man that could easily die tomorrow. He didn't want to be alone, so he married Kathlyn Elisea Campbell, they got married March 27th 1945, in Statford, England. This marriage unfortunately didn't last very long.
One of the Snowy Owls Planes, Most likely William Flew one like this!
Although his efforts were strong William caught
Picture of 420 Squadron emblem
Polio, right at the end of the war. “Large epidemics of polio in the U.S. occur immediately after the war with an average of more than 20,000 cases a year from 1945 to 1949.” This is a staggering amount of people, many of them also being war veterans. William was treated at the King George Isolation Hospital, said the be “In the focal point of the province’s polio attack.” (Cherny) He was in good hands, but unfortunately the Hospital couldn’t save him. William Douglas Campbell died August 1945 at the age of 23. He had been married for around half a year and Kathlyn was a widow. As William fought in the war for 3 years and died just upon the breach of victory. William Campbell lived up to the Snowy Owl motto "Escadrilly pegnanus finitum" [We Fight to the End]" (420 Squadron) And just like many others who made it to their end, William died to serve his country proud.
William's Certificate of Death
Photo taken from St. Paul's Personal Documents of William Douglas Campbell.
Honours and Awards: 39-45 star, A/C Eur star, France + Germany Star, D. Medal, General Service Medal, C.V.S.M.
39-45 Star
Air Crew European Star
France and Germany Star
The Defence Medal
General Service Medal
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Photograph: Not online, at St. Paul's High School. There is a picture of William.
Next of Kin (and relationship): Kathlyn Elisea Campbell, Wife
Date of Death: November 7, 1945
Country of Burial: Canada
Cemetery: Elmwood cemetery
Grave Reference: N/A
Location: Winnipeg Manitoba
Book of Remembrance: Page 501, mid page on the right column
The Book of Rememberance click below to learn about it
Click Here to learn more about the book of remembrance. (note: It is a Wikipedia site therefore not all information is credited, although it has good information about the book)
Include the diagram of the cemetery if possible. Also provide some information about the cemetery if possible.
"Since 1902, Elmwood Cemetery has been considered a premier burial ground for residents of Winnipeg and its surrounding communities. Situated in a residential neighbourhood, its 38 acres are embraced by the banks of the Red River. Over 57,000 people are buried here, making Elmwood Cemetery one of the largest cemeteries of preference in Winnipeg. To many Winnipeggers in earlier times, a visit to Elmwood Cemetery meant a day in the country. It was not unusual for people to enjoy picnics and family outings on the Cemetery grounds after paying their respects at the graveside" (http://www.elmwoodfriends.ca/story.htm)
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Causes, Incidence, and Risk Factors." Measles. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 2000. Web. 08 May 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002536/>.
as (A.D.A.M. Board)
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan: WWII CATP Air Museum. 2008. Web. 01 May 2012. <http://www.airmuseum.ca/mag/exag0211.html>.
This is a great site just showing you what it was like to be in a squadron for the RCAF in the war.
"420 Squadron Wellington Period August 1942 to October 1943." RCAF 420 Snowy Owl Squadron Wellingtons. Web. 01 May 2012. <http://www.aquatax.ca/Wellingtons.html
This is a good site to just figure out the day to day activities of the 420 squadron in which my soldier was part of.
McKay, Russell. One of the Many. Burnstown, Ont.: General Store Pub. House, 1989. Print.
This is a book just telling us in what the 420 squadron did. What bombings they were part of.
Ty Wood
William Douglas Campbell
RCAF Pilot
Photo 1.1 Snowy Owls Retrieved from http://www.aquatax.ca/snowyowl.html
Service Personnel Information
Essay
Lest We Forget: William Douglas CampbellWorld War 2, a critical transformation Canada is viewed. Our Country finally revealed our true potential. That Canada was not a weak country, leaching off of the US. Although we almost always forget, what really happened during the war was different. We see the war as a team struggle and never look into individuals. While this essay is different. We look into the life of an individual in the war from St Paul’s High School, William Douglas Campbell, one who died young from the causes of the war.
Before the war William lived on 225 Niagara St. in Winnipeg.
William seemed to be an extraordinary young man, with his entire life ahead of him. In 1942 he decided to join the R.C.A.F. He applied to be a pilot, with 0 flying hours it would seem he would never get the job, although that wasn’t the case. He trained at the RAF trainee’s pool for a time, In this training he had to and after his training was completed joined the war. William served in the war for a total of 3 years, during this period he was only 20-23 years old, which seems very young to be in a war. Although there were many just like him. William was part of one of the most important bombings of the war, the bombing of Berlin. This bombing occurred at the end of the war, and is one of the main reasons for the collapse of the Nazi’s. “The Allies bomb Berlin with 12,000 airmen, dropping thousands of tons of explosives. Heavy losses are sustained on both sides; in one nighttime raid on the 24th… Despite the losses, the Allies are able to replace their forces while the Germans are not.” (WW2 timeline) This quotation is just telling us how important the bombing of Berlin will be for the war.William and his squadron, the snowy owls [squadron 420], were a major part of the winning of the war. Life in the squadron seemed like the only good thing these soldiers had going for them. They were fighting for their lives together and looking at the picture of the Snowy Owls they seemed like a very close group. They had to be because if they didn’t trustsoldiers, they could end up dead quick. The Snowy Owls were a very sucessful group: "The squadron flew a total of 3,479 sorties while completing 314 missions as part of Bomber Command during World War II flying over Europe. The majority, 79% (247), of these were bombing missions. Mine laying accounted for 18% (47) and the remaining missions were related to leaflet dropping (eight missions) and weather reconnaissance (two missions)." (420 squadron) William was once again succeeding, his team effort with the other members of his squad were amazing. William was unbeatable with 247 bombings, it is most likely he flew the Halifax III as most pilots in the 420 squadron flew this plane. Although while in the war, bombing other countries wasn't all William was thinking about like any man that could easily die tomorrow. He didn't want to be alone, so he married Kathlyn Elisea Campbell, they got married March 27th 1945, in Statford, England. This marriage unfortunately didn't last very long.
Although his efforts were strong William caught
William's Certificate of Death
Photo taken from St. Paul's Personal Documents of William Douglas Campbell.Military Service Record
- Photograph: Not online, at St. Paul's High School. There is a picture of William.
- Next of Kin (and relationship): Kathlyn Elisea Campbell, Wife
- Date of Death: November 7, 1945
- Country of Burial: Canada
- Cemetery: Elmwood cemetery
- Grave Reference: N/A
- Location: Winnipeg Manitoba
- Book of Remembrance: Page 501, mid page on the right column
The Book of Rememberance click below to learn about it
- Click Here to learn more about the book of remembrance. (note: It is a Wikipedia site therefore not all information is credited, although it has good information about the book)
Picture taken from www.vetrans.gc.caGrave Reference
- Name of Cemetery: Elmwood Cemetery
- Grave Reference: N/A
Include the diagram of the cemetery if possible. Also provide some information about the cemetery if possible.To many Winnipeggers in earlier times, a visit to Elmwood Cemetery meant a day in the country. It was not unusual for people to enjoy picnics and family outings on the Cemetery grounds after paying their respects at the graveside" (http://www.elmwoodfriends.ca/story.htm)
Additional information/links
YouTube video on Berlin Bombing
Citations
"WW2 Timeline" PBS.com. Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/bombing/>.as (WW2 Timeline)
"420 Squadron (PT) RCAF." RCAF 420 Snowy Owl Squadron. Web. 16 May 2012.
<http://www.aquatax.ca/snowyowl.html>.
as (420 Squadron)
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Causes, Incidence, and Risk Factors." Measles. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 2000. Web. 08 May 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002536/>.
as (A.D.A.M. Board)
Cherny, Bruce. "Great Polio Epidemic." WinnipegREALTORS®. Web. 15 May 2012.
<http://images27.winnipegrealtors.ca/editorials.aspx?id=898>.
as (Cherny)
Bibliography
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan: WWII CATP Air Museum. 2008. Web. 01 May 2012. <http://www.airmuseum.ca/mag/exag0211.html>.This is a great site just showing you what it was like to be in a squadron for the RCAF in the war.
"420 Squadron Wellington Period August 1942 to October 1943." RCAF 420 Snowy Owl Squadron Wellingtons. Web. 01 May 2012. <http://www.aquatax.ca/Wellingtons.html
This is a good site to just figure out the day to day activities of the 420 squadron in which my soldier was part of.
McKay, Russell. One of the Many. Burnstown, Ont.: General Store Pub. House, 1989. Print.
This is a book just telling us in what the 420 squadron did. What bombings they were part of.
Claxton, Brooke. "Squadron Nicknames." The RCAF Overseas. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/RCAF/Sixth/RCAF_Overseas_vol3_e.pdf>.
Tells a little bit of the journeys of the other RCAF overseas, and also tells us what the squadron nicknames were which is cool.
"Search For Dead." CWGC. 30 Apr. 2012 <http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1>.
Some easy basic factual information about William that is needed to know.
Wright, Geoff. "RAF Pilot Training." BBC News. BBC. 01 May 2012 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/02/a2855702.shtml>.
What kind of training he underwent to become a pilot in WW2.